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A 

SERMON 


DELIVERED  AT  THE  OLD  SOUTH  CHURCH,  BOSTON, 


JUNE  7,  1819, 


ON  THE  EVENING  PREVIOUS  TO  THE  SAILING  OF  THE 


REV.  MIRON  WINSLOW,  LEVI  SPAULDING,  AND  HENRY 
WOODWARD,  & Dr.  JOHN  SCUDDER, 


AS 


MISSIONARIES  TO  CEYLON. 


BY  MIRON  WINSLOW,  A.  M- 


ANDOVER; 

FLAGG  AND  GOULD,  PRINTERS. 


1819. 


1 


j 


SERMON. 


PHILIPPI ANS  ii.  21. 

14  For  ali.  seek  their  own,  not  the  things  which  are  jescs  Christ’s.” 

The  Christian  religion,  in  distinction  from  all  others, 
is  the  religion  of  benevolence.  Its  divine  Author,  when 
a world  was  perishing  and  there  was  no  eye  to  pity,  left 
the  mansions  of  heaven  and  came  into  this  dark  world 
to  sojourn  among  his  creatures — his  enemies,  and  die 
that  they  might  live.  When  all  we  like  sheep  had  gone 
astray,  on  him  was  laid  the  iniquity  of  us  all : he  was 
wounded  for  our  transgression ; he  was  bruised  for  our 
iniquity  ; the  chastisement  of  our  peace  was  upon  him  ; 
and  by  his  stripes  we  are  healed.  By  his  humilia- 
tion, in  which  he  was  despised  and  rejected  of  men,  and 
by  his  bitter  sufferings,  in  which  he  had  not  even  the 
consolation  given  to  his  faithful  followers  in  the  hour  of 
anguish,  he  purchased  everlasting  redemption  for  all  who 
believe  in  his  name  ; raising  them  from  the  ruins  of  the 
fall,  and  placing  them  on  thrones  at  his  right  hand.  Here- 
in is  love,  not  that  we  loved  God,  but  that  he  loved  us 
and  sent  his  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins. 

The  spirit  of  benevolence  thus  exhibited  is  the 


4 


spirit  of  Christianity.  Christ  commanded  his  followers 
to  love  one  another  even  as  he  had  loved  them — with 
a disinterested  love  stronger  than  death  and  superior  to 
all  the  narrow  distinctions  of  family,  sect,  or  nation. 
They  were  not  to  love  their  friends  only,  but  their  en- 
emies ; not  themselves,  but  their  neighbours  as  them- 
selves. He  taught  that  all  men  are  brethren  ; that 
they  should  live  together  as  members  of  the  same  fami- 
ly, sympathizing  in  each  other’s  joys  and  sorrows,  and 
seeking  not  every  one  his  own,  but  every  one  his  neigh- 
bour’s good.  As  he  had  laid  down  his  life  for  them,  so 
they  ought  to  lay  down  their  lives  for  each  other.  This 
was  the  new  commandment  he  gave  unto  them ; new  as  to 
its  extent,  and  the  motives  which  enforced  it.  Men  had 
before  been  commanded  to  love  one  another.  It  was 
required  by  the  Mosaic  law,  and  indeed  by  the  light  of 
nature  ; but  not  to  love  one  another  even  as  Christ  had 
loved  them : such  love  had  never  been  displayed  in  the 
universe,  and  could,  therefore,  have  no  existence  even 
in  idea. 

On  this  principle  was  Christianity  founded : a prin- 
ciple at  once  the  most  simple  ami  the  most  grand  ever 
presented  to  human  contemplation  : — simple,  because 
easily  applied — “do  unto  others  as  ye  would  that  others 
should  do  unto  you and  grand,  because  in  leading  each 
individual  to  seek  the  best  good  of  all,  it  prevents  all 
clashing  of  interests,  and  like  the  principle  of  gravitation 
in  the  natural  world,  secures  harmony  to  the  whole  sys- 
tem. Each  individual  has  his  appropriate  circle,  but 
all  revolve  round  a common  centre,  to  which  they  are 
attracted  by  the  love  of  benevolence. 

Opposed  to  this  principle  is  the  spirit  of  selfishness, 
which  makes  all  seek  their  own.  In  the  natural  man  it 


is  predominant ; entering  into  every  feeling  and  gradu- 
ating every  desire.  He  coniines  his  views  to  the  nar- 
row sphere  of  private  interest,  and  revolves  round  him- 
self as  his  own  centre.  The  remains  of  it  are  found  in 
Christians  ; they  all  seek  their  own.  In  proportion  as  the 
heart  is  unsanctified,  selfishness  retains  its  dominion.  It 
displays  itself  even  in  the  concerns  of  religion.  The 
private  Christian  satisfies  himself  with  seeking  his  own 
salvation,  almost  regardless  of  the  multitudes  around 
him,  perhaps  tvithin  his  influence,  and  certainly  within 
the  reach  of  his  prayers,  going  blindfold  to  destruction. 
The  minister  of  the  Gospel,  who  professes  to  be  exclu- 
sively devotdd  to  the  good  of  the  Church,  and  who 
ought  to  embrace  the  most  extended  plans  of  benevo- 
lence, too  seldom  lifts  his  eye  beyond  the  horizon  of 
his  own  parish.  Be  it  the  merest  hamlet  of  the  coun- 
try, to  him  it  is  the  centre  of  creation.  It  engrosses  all 
his  thoughts.  He  cannot  talk  of  doing  good  abroad, 
while  there  is  any  thing  to  be  done  at  home.  Even 
those,  who  are  most  active  and  enlarged  in  their  chari- 
ties, have  something  of  this  spirit.  A man  fixes  on  a 
plan  for  doing  good — it  interests  him — he  pursues  it  ar- 
dently. By  bringing  it  frequently  before  the  mind,  it 
magnifies  and  soon  fills  the  whole  vision.  The  conse- 
quence is,  an  almost  entire  devotedness  to  this  single  ob- 
ject. No  matter  what  it  is,  there  is  scarcely  any  other 
method  of  doing  good ; none  certainly  to  be  compared 
with  this. 

But  it  may  be  said,  this  is  not  selfish.  God  has  so 
formed  us  that  we  must  operate  where  we  are;  he  has 
made  it  our  duty  to  seek  first  our  own  salvation  and  then 
principally  that  of  our  neighbours  and  of  those  more  im- 
mediately within  the  sphere  of  our  influence.  We  pro- 


6 


mote  the  best  good  of  the  whole  by  advancing  the  in- 
terest of  the  several  parts.  It  is  granted  that  we  must 
operate  where  we  are,  and  that  charity  properly  begins 
at  home ; but  it  is  not  granted  that  we  should  confine 
our  views  to  the  scenes  immediately  around  us  ; much 
less  that  we  should  seek  our  own  good,  or  the  good  of 
our  friends,  to  the  manifest  injury  of  the  more  distant 
parts  of  the  human  family ; nor  is  it  allowed  that  if 
charity  begins  at  home  it  will  of  course  end  there.  That 
principle  of  our  nature,  which  magnifies  the  objects  in 
which  we  are  engaged,  and  enables  us  to  concentrate  all 
the  powers  of  our  mind  upon  them,  with  an  intensity, 
scarcely  less,  than  if  there  were  no  other  in  the  uni- 
verse, is  indeed  the  main  spring  of  great  operations  ; 
but  when  it  is  not  regulated  by  the  best  good  of  the 
whole  system,  it  is  dangerous,  and  produces  at  best  but 
a selfish  benevolence. 

To  the  want  among  Christians  of  that  spirit,  which 
is  the  distinguishing  characteristic  of  their  religion,  is  to 
be  attributed  the  indifference  with  which  they  have  too 
generally  regarded  the  conversion  of  the  Heathen. 
We  have  seen  that  it  is  the  office  of  benevolence 
to  embrace  the  whole  world ; but  since  the  Apostolic 
age  nothing  like  a general,  zealous,  persevering  effort  to 
propagate  Christianity  abroad,  has  been  known.  With- 
in the  last  thirty  years,  the  spirit  of  Apostles  and  mar- 
tyrs, which  (if  we  except  its  existence  in  a few  unas- 
suming Moravians  and  a self  denying  Bramerd,  or  Swartz) 
had  slumbered  in  the  church  for  ages,  has  indeed  reviv- 
ed, and  we  behold  a day  which  kings  and  prophets  have 
desired  to  see  and  have  not  seen  it.  But  still  it  may  be 
said  of  Christians  in  many  places,  “ Jill  seek  their  own.” 
The  American  churches  fall  too  directly  under  this  cen- 


7 


sure.  Though  something  has  been  done  by  them,  it  is 
nothing  to  the  necessities  of  the  heathen,  or  to  our 
means  of  supplying  them  ; — it  is  nothing  to  our  propor- 
tion for  the  conversion  of  the  world.  \Y  ere  a distribu- 
tion to  be  made  of  the  heathen  to  the  various  Chris- 
tian nations,  not  less,  probably,  than  one  hundred  mill- 
ions would  fall  to  our  share.  To  enlighten  these,  the 
American  and  Baptist  Board  have  sent  out  sixteen  mis- 
sionaries— sixteen  missionaries  for  a hundred  million  souls ; 
not  one  to  six  millions. 

It  may  however  be  replied,  we  ought  to  seek  our 
own,  since  there  is  so  much  to  be  done  at  home.  We 
have  a population  already  vast,  and  increasing  with  un- 
exampled rapidity,  and  but  poorly  supplied  with  the 
means  of  instruction.  Large  districts  are  entirely  desti- 
tute. Shall  we  then  let  our  own  country  degenerate 
into  paganism  to  extend  the  gospel  into  foreign  lands;  or 
go  through  fire  and  water  to  convert  a distant  heathen, 
wrhen  we  have  enough  of  them  at  our  own  doors? 
Strong  language  is  sometimes  used  on  this  subject,  and 
though  there  is  in  the  Christian  public  a pretty  general 
approbation  of  foreign  missions,  there  is  not  that  decided 
and  firm  conviction  of  their  immense  importance,  which 
awakens  every  energy  to  the  work.  On  the  contrary, 
there  is  probably  among  some,  who  patronize  the  pres- 
ent system  of  operations,  a secret  misgiving  as  to  the  ex- 
pediency of  w7hat  they  are  doing,  and  some  question, 
whether  we  should  not  on  the  w'hole  confine  ourselves 
to  this  country.  It  is  my  present  object  to  show  that  the 
American  churches  cannot  be  justified  in  thus-  seeking 
their  own  ; and  to  do  this  I would  offer  to  the  attention 
of  this  audience,  for  the  last  time,  the  following  consid- 
erations. 


8 


I.  There  are  others  more  in  want . In  casting  our 
eyes  over  the  map  of  the  world,  we  cannot  but  be 
struck  with  the  fact,  that  the  countries  enlightened  by 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness  are  the  only  bright  spots  of 
the  picture.  All  around  is  darkness,  a darkness,  com- 
pared with  which,  the  most  obscure  gloom  of  Christian- 
ity is  noon-day.  If  by  this  is  meant  that  there  is  much 
practical  atheism,  or  a wilful  ignorance  of  almost  the 
whole  system  of  revealed  religion,  it  is  true,  lamentably 
true.  Yes,  within  the  sound  of  every  church  bell,  there 
are  many  who  rarely,  if  ever,  enter  the  house  of  God; 
and  within  the  reach  of  every  preacher’s  voice,  there 
are  multitudes,  who  have  had  line  upon  line  and  precept 
upon  precept,  that  now  need  to  be  taught  the  first  prin- 
ciples of  the  doctrines  of  Christ.  In  the  corner  of  al- 
most every  parish  may  be  found  whole  families,  who, 
for  ignorance  of  God,  may  well  be  called  heathen.  It  is 
likewise  true  that  there  are  many  deplorably  destitute 
of  the  means  for  instruction.  Populous  portions  of  our 
country  arc  without  a church.  The  stated  ordinances 
of  the  gospel  are  unknown.  Many  do  not  and  cannot 
hear  a sermon  for  years.  But  compare  their  situation 
with  that  of  Pagans.  They  have,  or  may  have,  the  Bi- 
ble, and  generally  they  can  read  it.  They  have  various 
religious  books.  Most  have  some  Christian  friend  to 
instruct  and  warn  them ; and,  occasionally,  they  hear 
the  word  preached.  When  they  have  no  preaching, 
they  can,  and  generally  do,  meet  together  on  the  Sab- 
bath and  read  a sermon,  which  is  no  despicable  substi- 
tute for  ministerial  service.  Indeed,  on  such  destitute 
places  God  has  in  many  instances  poured  out  his  Spirit, 
and  revived  his  work  to  show  that  he  can  make  his 
truth  omnipotent,  though  exhibited  at  some  disadvan- 
tage* 


9 


Such  is  not  the  condition  of  the  poor  Pagans.  To 
say  nothing  of  the  comparison  in  another  point  of  view; 
—to  omit  mentioning  their  social  state , their  want  of  civil- 
ization, usually  connected  with  the  want  of  Christianity; 
their  barbarity  in  torturing  their  prisoners  taken  in  war,  in 
murdering  their  parents  when  they  become  aged  and  in- 
firm, and  in  destroying  their  infants  when  they  tind  it  diffi- 
cult to  maintain  them  ; their  destitution  of  domestic  hap- 
piness, in  consequence  of  the  debased  condition  of  females, 
who  are  treated  as  the  merest  slaves;  their  intellectual  de- 
gradation, by  which  they  are  in  many  countries,  brought 
down  nearly  to  a level  with  the  brute — and  to  omit  men- 
tioning their  moral  state  ; passing  that  dark  catalogue  of 
crimes,  which  are  not  only  committed  unblushingly  in 
the  face  of  day,  but  are  boasted  of  as  virtues — omitting 
all  these,  it  is  sufficient  to  consider  them  as  religious  be- 
ings. Even  here,  I shall  not  attempt  to  describe  the 
temporal  wretchedness  always  attendant  on  idolatry. 
You  might  go  to  India,  to  the  followers  of  Brahma,  and 
see  here  a devotee  stretched  on  a bed  of  iron  spikes, 
and  there  hanging  by  the  heels  over  a slow  consuming 
fire.  At  the  temple  of  Juggernaut,  you  might  see  the 
fields,  for  leagues  around,  whitened  with  the  bones  of 
pilgrims.  As  you  stand  witnessing  the  scene  of  the 
idol  feast,  amidst  tens  of  thousands  of  worshippers,  rais- 
ing a horrid  din  of  trumpets  and  drums  and  voices,  while 
they  move  the  god  on  his  car,  one  trembling  pilgrim 
presses  through  the  crowd,  throws  himself  before  the 
wheels  of  the  car,  and  is  instantly  crushed  to  death.  In 
one  of  your  solitary  walks  you  see  a collection  of  people 
at  a distance.  You  approach.  It  is  a funeral;  but  ala9, 
of  the  living  with  the  dead.  On  a pile  of  wTood  you  see 
a corpse  laid  out.  But  what  sad  figure  is  that,  so  tike 

2 


10 


the  image  of  despair,  which  approaches  and  almost 
fainting  walks  with  unsteady  steps  around  the  pile-  It 
is  the  wife  of  the  deceased.  Observe  her  countenance  ; 
pale  as  the  winding  sheet  of  her  husband.  See  her  eye 
now  fixed  without  meaning  on  the  ground,  now  raised, 
full  of  anguish  to  her  dead  partner,  as  if  saying,  do  you 
require  this  sacrifice  ? or  cast  with  an  imploring  look  on 
the  spectators,  intreating  their  aid.  But  she  must  die. 
With  one  distracted  effort,  she  mounts  the  pile,  and 
throws  her  arms  around  the  corpse.  Her  own  son,  with 
averted  face,  lights  the  fire ; and  while  you  see  her  per- 
haps struggling  in  the  flames,  you  hear  from  the  back 
ground  the  cries  and  sobs  of  her  children,  now  doubly 
orphans. 

Nothing  of  all  this  is  seen  in  our  favoured  country. 
Though  our  own  Mississippi  does  indeed  roll  its  tide 
through  a moral  desert,  yet 'it  does  not,  like  the  Ganges, 
carry  on  its  bosom  the  aged  parent,  thrown  into  it  by 
his  own  children,  while  struggling  for  life,  nor  convey 
down  its  stream  the  helpless,  shrieking  infant,  into  the 
mouth  of  the  crocodile.  No ! most  of  the  temporal 
blessings,  which  Christianity  confers,  are  enjoyed,  even 
by  the  destitute  in  our  country ; for  they  breathe  a 
Christian  atmosphere. 

But  it  is  simply  as  destined  to  eternity,  that  we  ought 
rather  to  Compare  the  heathen  with  ourselves.  While 
the  most  uninformed  among  us  know  that  there  is  a God 
and  a future  state,  the  pagan  is  almost  entirely  ignorant 
of  both,  lie  looks  upward  to  an  empty  heaven,  as  to 
one  peopled  with  an  infinity  of  gods  of  the  most  des- 
picable, and  sometimes  of  the  most  malignant  character. 
These  gods  he  may  fear , but  he  cannot  love.  His  devo- 
tion, therefore,  has  no  90ul — it  is  the  tribute  of  a slave 


11 


to  his  tyrant.  Happier  would  he  be,  if  like  the  brutes, 
he  were  not  a religious  being.  They  may  tremble  un- 
der a beating  storm,  or  when  they  see  an  axe  raised  to 
slay  them,  but  they  have  no  dread  of  futurity,  no  fearful 
looking  for  of  judgment  and  fiery  indignation  from  some 
unknown  being,  whom  they  feel  that  they  have  offended. 
If  they  do  not  look  downwards  into  a bottomless  grave, 
their  views  of  a future  state  are  so  indistinct  as  to  in- 
spire terror  and  not  hope.  When  they  approach  the 
silent  mansion,  no  angel  whispers  peace,  no  seraph  in- 
vites the  sister  spirit,  no  Saviour  supports  the  sinking 
soul  through  the  gloomy  valley.  All  is  dark  and  com- 
fortless, unless  they  have  made  a fancied  atonement  for 
their  sins  by  the  most  cruel  sufferings. 

But  to  complete  the  climax  we  must  look  into  the  eter- 
nal world.  We  must  remember  that  the  heathen  have 
souls — souls  like  ours,  each  of  which  is  capable  of  an  in- 
finite progression  in  happiness  or  misery,  capable  in  some 
period  of  eternity  of  enjoying  more  happiness,  or  endur- 
ing more  misery,  than  ever  has  been  enjoyed  or  endured 
by  all  our  race  since  the  creation.  Is  it  said,  this  hap- 
piness may  be  theirs — they  may  be  saved  through  the 
merits  of  the  Redeemer,  though  they  have  never  known 
him.  They  may  have  a heart  which  would  accept  him 
were  he  made  known  ? This  is  possible,  but  not  proba- 
ble ; at  least  is  it  probable  that  many  of  the  heathen 
have  any  thing  like  the  temper  of  heaven,  without 
which  they  could  not  be  happy  there  ? Read  their 
history.  Is  not  almost  every  page  stained  with  pollu- 
tion, every  sentence  written  in  characters  of  blood  ? 
Are  such  men  preparing  for  a holy  heaven,  into  which 
no  unclean  thing  can  enter  ? Are  they  here  beginning 
the  worship  of  heaven  ? W hat  saith  the  Scripture  j* 


12 


“ The  things  which  the  Gentiles  offer  they  offer  unto 
devils,  and  not  unto  God.”  Does  God  still  regard  them 
with  such  favor,  that  he  will  in  some  way,  unknown 
to  us,  fit  them  for  heaven  ? What  does  his  former  deal- 
ings with  idolators  declare  ? Let  the  destruction  of  the 
old  world,  let  the  flames  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  let 
the  terrible  judgments  on  the  Israelites,  when  they 
wandered  after  other  gods,  yea,  let  his  own  express  de- 
claration, ‘ Idolaters  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake 
that  burneth  with  lire  and  brimstone,’  give  the  answer. 
It  cannot  certainly  be  denied,  that  the  general  represen- 
tation of  the  Bible  concerning  the  heathen  world  is.  that 
they  are  going  down  to  perdition.  If  still,  the  thought 
of  such  vast  multitudes  sinking  into  hell,  without  any 
knowledge  of  the  only  name  given  under  heaven  by 
which  they  can  be  saved,  seems  inconsistent  with  the 
goodness  of  God,  we  are  to  remember,  that  they,  with 
all  our  fallen  race,  deserve  eternal  misery  ; that  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Gospel  are  wholly  gratuitous,  God  being 
under  no  obligation  to  communicate  them  to  any;  and  if 
not  to  any,  certainly  not  to  all ; that  he  has  a right  to 
choose  whom  he  w ill  to  salvation,  and  if  he  leaves  whole 
nations  to  perish,  it  is  right.  We  arc  to  remember,  too, 
that  he  has  appointed  to  sanctify  men  through  the  truth, 
putting  this  honour  upon  his  word  to  make  it  the  instru- 
ment of  preparing  men  for  heaven;  and  that  if  he  de- 
signs to  save  the  heathen,  he  could  easily  save  them  in 
this  appointed  way  by  extending  to  them  the  Gospel. 
He  is  not  driven  to  the  necessity  of  making  different 
terms,  to  different  parts  of  the  human  family. 

It  is  true  the  heathen  are  to  be  judged  according  to 
the  light  they  have  ; they  cannot  be  condemned  for  re- 
jecting a salvation  which  was  never  olfcrcd  them ; but 


13 


they  may  be  condemned — they  will  be  condemned  tor 
putting  out  the  light  of  nature — ■“  That  when  they  knew 
God,  they  glorified  him  not  as  God , neither  were  thankful, 
but  became  vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  their  foolish 
hearts  were  darkened ,” — changing  44  the  glory  of  the  in- 
corruptible God  into  an  image  made  like  to  corruptible  man. 
and  to  birds , and  four-footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things 
— These  not  having  the  law,  are  a law  unto  themselves.  By 
this  they  will  be  tried,  and  who  dare  say,  that  by  this 
thev  will  stand  acquitted,  when  God  says,  “ For  as  ma- 
ny as  have  sinned  without  law  shall  also  perish  without 
law?"  But  to  take  the  very  lowest  ground,  allowing  it 
possible  that  the  heathen  stand  some  chance  of  salva- 
tion, yet  no  one  will  say  it  is  not  far  less  than  that  of 
our  most  destitute  inhabitants,  so  that  in  this  momentous 
respect  they  are  surely  more  in  need. 

II.  We  may  do  something  for  the  heathen  without  in- 
terfering with  other  duties.  It  is  not  my  design  to  dis- 
parage any  exertions  for  our  destitute  at  home.  On  the 
contrary,  w'ere  my  ability  equal  to  my  desire,  I would 
speak  on  this  subject  in  tones  which  should  reach  every 
village,  and  electrify  every  church  and  Christian  in  our 
country.  I would  sav,  look  at  the  tide  of  emigration, 
rolling  into  your  western  wilderness.  Its  broken  waves 
show  scarcely  the  vestiges  of  the  religious  institutions, 
most  dear  to  the  Christian.  Look  at  the  new  settle- 
ments, the  germs  of  future  cities,  springing  up  in  the 
midst  of  almost  every  forest,  nearly  without  the  light  of 
the  Gospel.  Observe  the  rapid  increase  of  our  popu- 
lation, destined  at  no  distant  period  to  exceed  that  of  all 
Europe,  and  then  that  comparative  diminution  of  means 
for  instruction,  which  threatens  an  alarming  deteriora- 
tion in  our  moral  and  religious  character,  and  a relapse 


14 


almost  into  Paganism.  Do  not  these  things  call  to  ac- 
tion ? Other  nations  have  gradually  risen  from  the  sav- 
age to  the  civilized  state,  we  seem  by  permitting  our 
population  to  outgrow  our  literary  and  religious  institu- 
tions to  be  merging  civilization  into  barbarism.  Certain- 
ly every  nerve  should  be  strained  to  stop  our  downward 
course.  Bible  Societies  and  Tract  Societies  should  be 
supported — Sabbath  Schools  and  Bible  classes  establish- 
ed— Domestic  Missionary  Societies  aided,  and  the  ex- 
tending plans  for  educating  pious  young  men  and  plant- 
ing them  in  our  w’aste  places,  receive  a liberal  patron- 
age. But  while  these  things  are  done,  the  heathen 
should  not  be  forgotten.  If  they  are  removed  from  us 
to  a greater  distance,  they  are  more  in  need,  they  are 
more  wretched,  than  our  own  countrymen  ; they  should 
come  in  for  a share  of  our  charities.  We  need  not  make 
any  comparison  between  the  claims  of  the  different  ob- 
jects, they  were  designed  to  go  together.  All  are  parts 
of  one  great  system. 

The  resources  of  the  church  are  amply  sufficient  for 
all  these  objects.  Let  Christians  inscribe  “ holiness  to 
the  Lord ” on  their  possessions — let  them  deny  them- 
selves for  the  church — let  them  labour,  working  with 
their  hands,  that  they  may  have  to  give  to  him  that 
needeth,  and  there  would  be  no  failure  or  deficiency  in 
the  bank  of  charity.  How  much  might  he  added  to  the 
means  of  almost  every  one  by  a little  extra  industry  ; 
how  much  by  strict  economy ; how  much  especially  by 
the  retrenchment  of  superfluities.  Christians  have  not 
yet  entered  on  this  system  ; they  live  with  the  world, 
and  run  into  nearly  the  same  extravagancies  of  expense. 
By  a little  retrenchment  in  articles  of  dress  and  living, 
great  sums  might  be  collected  for  the  Lord's  treasury. 


15 


Were  Christians  to  devote  as  great  a proportion  of  their 
income  to  the  service  of  religion  as  did  the  Jews  ; or 
were  they  to  give  one  tenth,  which  was  what  this  na- 
tion gave  only  to  their  priests,  it  would  be  amply  suffi- 
cient for  all  the  present  demands  of  benevolence.  Be- 
sides, giving  would  not  impoverish.  He  who  holds  the 
winds  in  his  lists,  who  commandeth  the  sun  and  it  shin- 
eth  not,  could  easily  by  giving  the  merchant  a favoura- 
ble voyage,  and  the  farmer  a fruitful  harvest,  abundant- 
ly repay  the  church  for  all  its  expenditures  in  his  ser- 
vice ; and  he  will  do  it.  Give  and  it  shall  be  given, 
good  measure,  pressed  down  and  running  over,  will  the 
Lord  pour  into  your  bosom.  There  is  that  scattereth, 
and  yet  increaseth  ; and  there  is  that  withholdeth  more 
than  is  meet,  but  it  tendeth  to  poverty. 

III.  To  confine  our  operations  at  home  is  not  the  best 
method  of  increasing  our  own  strength.  There  is  a principle 
of  reaction  in  efforts  abroad,  which  causes  them  to  re- 
turn with  redoubled  effect  upon  the  church  at  home. 
This  might  be  expected  from  the  nature  of  benevolence, 
which  always  increases  bv  exercise.  But  there  is  an- 
other principle  concerned.  The  mind  of  every  man 
contracts  to  the  littleness,  or  expands  to  the  magnitude 
of  his  object.  So  it  is  with  the  church.  When  a single 
plan  of  benevolence  is  before  the  Christian  public,  it  ex- 
cites but  little  interest,  and  receives  a patronage  proba- 
bly inadequate  to  its  success  ; but  extend  your  scheme 
— present  methods  of  doing  good  sufficient  to  employ  all 
the  resources  of  the  church,  and  you  rouse  her  dormant 
charities  ; you  secure  a more  liberal  support  for  all  than 
any  single  object  would  have  received  by  itself.  There 
is  a community  in  the  objects  of  benevolence.  Like  the 
different  parts  of  an  arch  they  support  each  other.  Un- 


16 


questionably  there  is  a limit,  beyond  which,  this  would 
not  hold,  but  it  is  only  the  limit  of  ability.  So  far  as 
the  means  of  the  church  can  be  increased,  they  will  be 
increased.  We  have,  by  no  means,  yet  arrived  at  the 
extreme  point  of  salutary  effort ; and  every  step,  by 
which  we  are  drawn  towards  it,  promotes  the  interest  of 
religion  at  home. 

Benevolent  operations  abroad  have  a peculiar  influ- 
ence, because  they  excite  a general  interest.  The  peo- 
ple of  the  world  see  in  them,  that  Christians  believe 
their  religion  of  some  importance,  since  they  are  striving 
to  communicate  it  to  others — the  infidel  too  finds  he 
can  no  longer  tauntingly  ask,  “ How  is  it  that  this  divine 
religion  is  confined  to  a little  corner  of  the  globe  ?”  and 
the  church  is  roused  by  its  own  efforts  to  a spirit  of  fer- 
vent and  united  prayer,  the  effect  of  which  is  to  raise 
the  standard  of  piety,  and  bring  down  the  influences  of 
the  Holy  Spirit.  Witness  the  revivals  of  religion  in 
our  country,  and  the  concert  of  prayer,  in  which  our 
churches  unite  their  sacrifice  with  the  cloud  of  incense 
that  rises  with  the  sun  on  the  farthest  East,  and  as  the 
day  rolls  on,  ascends  from  the  shores  of  Africa,  Europe, 
America,  and  the  Islands  of  the  sea.  In  this,  and  va- 
rious other  ways,  the  light,  which  the  church  scatters 
abroad,  is  reflected  back  upon  itself  with  increased 
brightness.  The  promise  of  God  is  fulfilled,  “ He  that 
watercth,  shall  be  watered  also  himself.” 

The  history  of  our  churches  for  a few  years  past 
proves,  that  the  spirit  of  foreign  missions  is  a spirit  of 
life,  which  animates  every  part  of  the  body  religious. 
The  whole  system  of  benevolent  operations,  by  which 
so  much  is  doing  to  instruct  the  ignorant,  guide  the  er- 
ring, and  reform  the  vicious,  was  first  set  in  motion  by 


17 


commencing  missions  abroad.  It  may  be  said,  however, 
■“  We  grant  there  are  important  benefits  connected  with 
efforts  abroad,  but  were  the  same  efforts  made  at  home, 
were  the  money,  expended  in  foreign  missions,  devoted 
to  domestic  purposes,  more  good  would  be  done  at  least 
in  this  country.”  This  seems  to  be  a very  natural  con- 
clusion, and  by  those  who  cannot  extend  their  views  be- 
yond this  country,  it  may  be  thought  an  unanswerable 
argument  against  efforts  abroad ; for  no  matter  to  them 
how  many  heathen  are  converted,  provided  it  causes 
one  less  convert  among  nominal  Christians.  The  soul  of 
an  Indian  or  Hindoo  is  not  surely  worth  half  as  much  as 
that  of  an  American.  But  it  is  to  be  remembered,  that 
the  same  efforts  cannot  be  made  at  home.  The  money 
expended  in  foreign  missions  cannot  be  devoted  to  do- 
mestic purposes,  for  it  cannot  be  obtained.  No  one 
surely  need  be  told,  that  many  contribute  for  the  heath- 
en more  than  they  would  contribute  for  any  domestic 
object.  Besides,  on  the  principles  already  established, 
it  may  be  safely  assumed  that  no  diminution  whatever 
of  the  funds  for  domestic  churches  is  occasioned  by  ex- 
tending ourselves  abroad.  Look  back  on  our  churches 
as  they  were  when  their  resources  were  confined  within 
themselves.  Were  there  more  exertions  then  than 
there  now  are,  for  the  destitute  at  home  ? Far  from  it. 
Do  you  say  the  difference  is  to  be  attributed  to  other 
causes — to  the  progress  of  benevolence?  Look  then  at 
those  portions  of  our  country  that  huve  not  yet  imbibed 
the  spirit  of  foreign  missions.  Are  they  exerting  them- 
selves most  actively  in  converting  our  own  heathen  ? 
On  the  contrary,  is  it  not  undeniable,  that  the  churches 
and  individuals,  who  contribute  most  liberally  for  the 
heathen,  are  the  very  churches  and  individuals  most 
3 


18 


ready  to  every  good  work  at  home.  Facts  on  this  sub- 
ject are  worth  a thousand  speculations,  and  to  facts  1 
appeal.  No  candid  observer  of  the  progress  of  events 
will  find  any  difficulty  in  believing,  that  were  the  chan- 
nels now  opened  into  the  heathen  world  to  be  stopped 
up,  the  stream  of  charity -would  set  back  only  to  stag- 
nate in  the  church.  If  the  spirit  of  foreign  missions 
first  excited  the  Christian  action  of  the  day,  it  may  cer- 
tainly be  expected,  should  we  destroy  its  impulse,  the 
wheels  would  soon  begin  to  drag  heavily,  and  the  church 
sink  into  something  of  its  former  lethargy.  But  if  con- 
fining our  operations  at  home  is  not  the  best  method  of 
increasing  our  own  strength,  much  more, 

IV.  It  is  not  the  best  method  of  promoting  the  univer- 
sal diffusion  of  Christianity.  The  plea  is  sometimes 
made  that  the  American  churches  would  do  most  to- 
wards the  conversion  of  the  world  by  first  concentrating 
their  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  their  own  heathen, 
that  they  may  hereafter  come  with  more  vigour  to  the 
work.  But  if  they  could  not  in  reality  increase  their 
strength  by  this  means,  if  this  would  be  increased  most 
effectually  by  exercise,  the  argument  is  futile.  A mili- 
tary general  might  teach  us  a lesson  on  this  subject. 
Does  he,  when  contending  for  the  dominion  ol  nations, 
wait  the  enemy  at  home,  or  Avholly  employ  himself  in 
taking  a few  redoubts  in  a territory  of  which  he  has 
possession  ? Does  he  not  carry  the  battle  into  the  ene- 
my’s country,  march  to  the  capital,  assail  its  bulwarks, 
and  plant  a victorious  standard  on  its  citadel  ? So  should 
the  soldiers  of  the  cross.  Their  weapons  are  mighty 
through  God  to  the  pulling  down  of  strong  holds.  They 
should  therefore  direct  their  most  vigorous  efforts  to  the 
place  where  Satan’s  seat  is.  They  must  not  remain  at 


19 


home  until  all  around  them  are  loyal  subjects.  Let 
them  secure  the  principal  fortresses,  and  the  rest  will 
fall  of  course.  The  Apostles  acted  on  this  principle. 
They  did  not  continue  in  one  city,  until  all  its  inhabi- 
tants were  converted;  nor  in  India,  until  a principal  part 
of  the  Jews  became  Christians.  No  ! “ they  went  forth 
and  preached  every  where.”  When  they  had  planted 
the  Gospel  in  one  city,  they  hastened  to  another,  and 
this  at  the  command  of  Christ,  “Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.” 

Any  supposed  want  of  success  hitherto  is  no  objec- 
tion to  repeated  efforts.  He  is  but  a poor  general  who 
is  discouraged  by  a single  bad  campaign.  If  he  loses  a 
few  soldiers,  he  has  only  to  recruit  them  ; if  a thousand, 
or  ten  thousand  are  cut  off,  their  places  maybe  instantly 
supplied  by  others,  ready  to  march  to  the  same  destruc- 
tion. Oh,  when  shall  the  champions  of  the  cross  have 
the  same  intrepidity  ! 

But  there  is  a mistake  on  this  subject.  Missionaries 
have  not  gone  out  to  be  defeated.  They  have  some- 
times had  to  learn  by  losses,  but  their  success  in  the  end 
has  been  great.  Dividing  the  number  of  converts,  at  all 
the  missionary  stations,  among  the  different  missionaries 
employed,  there  is,  on  an  average,  a greater  number  to 
each  than  is  usually  found  in  the  churches  of  New  Eng- 
land. Besides,  the  benefit  of  a heathen  conversion  is  to 
be  reckoned  in  a ratio  of  increasing  benefit,  involving 
generations  yet  unborn.  With  the  conversion  of  one 
heathen,  is  connected  that  of  all  his  posterity,  at  least,  to 
the  profession  of  Christianity  : with  the  conversion  of  a 
tribe,  or  nation,  that  of  the  whole  country,  down  to  the 
end  of  time.  Are  not  the  consequences  important  ? 
Let  the  Baxters,  Howards,  and  Buchanans  of  England 


20 


declare  how  great  the  benefit  of  the  first  missions  to 
that  country.  Suppose  England  had  not  been  visited 
by  missionaries.  Where  would  be  all  the  benevolent 
operations  her  churches  are  now  carrying  on  ? Where 
would  be  all  the  souls  that  have  lived  and  died  there, 
since  the  mission  of  Augustine  ? Where  would  be  the 
privileges  of  our  own  happy  country  ? There  is  cer- 
tainly good  done  abroad — vast,  unquestionable  good ; and 
if  this  is  not  detracted  from  good  which  needs  to  be  ef- 
fected at  home  ; if  in  fact  there  is  more  done  for  domes- 
tic improvement  than  there  would  be  without  the  ex- 
citement of  foreign  missions  ; if  the  missionaries,  who 
go  abroad,  are  not  lost  to  the  church  at  home,  but  are 
still  able  to  speak  to  us  in  a voice  not  less  thrilling,  or 
rousing,  because  it  comes  thundering  over  the  great  wa- 
ters, or  issues  in  deep  tones  from  the  western  wilder- 
ness ; then,  plainly,  to  promote  the  universal  diffusion  of 
Christianity — which  should  be  the  object  of  every 
Christian — then,  plainly, 'we  should  not  restrict  ourselves 
to  our  own  limits. 

V.  The  American  churches  can  plead  no  exemption  from 
service  among  the  heathen , which  all  others  cannot  plead 
with  the  same  propriety.  It  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into 
a particular  comparison  of  our  wants  and  resources  with 
the  wants  and  resources  of  other  Christian  nations. 
Within  the  limits  of  that  nation,  which  maintains  the 
greatest  part  of  the  missionaries  abroad,  there  are  in 
Ireland  alone,  not  less  than  four  millions  of  Roman  Cath- 
olics, who  certainly  need  religious  instruction,  not  less 
than  our  most  destitute  inhabitants.  As  to  the  resour- 
ces of  our  country,  no  nation  is  more  favoured  either  as 
to  the  means  of  raising  up,  or  of  supporting  missionaries. 
If  there  are  not  many  overgrown  fortunes,  there  is  some- 


21 


thing  in  the  hands  of  almost  every  one,  and  the  facil- 
ities for  obtaining  an  education  are  very  considerable. 
Many  young  men  too  stand  ready  to  become  the  mes- 
sengers of  the  churches  and  the  glory  o(  Christ. 

Shall  we  then  selfishly  contract  our  views  within 
ourselves,  forget  the  more  unhappy  members  of  our 
father’s  family,  and  harden  our  hearts  against  our  poor 
brethren  ? Where  will  our  indifference  leave  them  ? 
To  go  down,  as  they  have  gone  down,  from  age  to  age, 
in  unbroken  succession,  to  people  the  dark  world  of  wo. 
For  when  will  it  be,  that  the  pleas  now  made  for  fold- 
ing our  hands,  may  not  still  be  made  ? Never!  never! 
Did  the  church  by  confining  its  efforts  within  its  own 
borders  become  better  prepared  to  convert  the  world? 
No,  it  Avas  beginning  the  enterprise  that  roused  Chris- 
tendom. Shall  Ave  noAV  travel  back  half  a century  to- 
Avards  the  dark  ages  ? Our  oAvn  good  forbids  it.  Shall 
we  in  any  Avay  attempt  to  stop  the  present  grand  system 
of  operations  and  leave  the  heathen  to  perish,  while  no 
man  cares  for  their  souls  ? I need  not  say  humanity  for- 
bids it,  for  you  cannot  be  deaf  to  the  deep  sighs  of  wretch- 
edness reverberated  from  every  part  of  our  western 
wilderness,  or  to  the  shrieks  of  despair,  Avhich  howl  in 
every  blast  as  it  sAveepe  over  the  Avide  rolling  Avaters  of 
the  East.  And  surely  religion,  that  religion,  Avhose  spirit 
is  benevolence,  a benevolence,  which  requires  us  to  love 
our  neighbour  as  ourselves,  forbids  it,  for  these  our 
neighbours,  are  perishing  while  we  have  the  means  of 
saving  them.  Let  us  for  a moment  place  our  soul  in 
their  soul’s  stead.  Let  each  one  of  you  fancy  himself  a 
heathen,  in  a heathen  land.  Through  age  or  sickness 
you  draAV  near  the  grave.  Your  friends,  that  they  may 
not  be  defiled  by  a dead  body,  convey  you  into  a wil- 


22 


tlerness,  or  to  the  side  of  some  river,  and  leave  you  there 
with  a bottle  of  water  and  a morsel  of  food  to  languish 
and  expire.  As  death  approaches,  you  turn  your  heavy 
eyes  around  for  some  friend  to  wipe  the  cold  sweat  from 
your  face,  and  hold  your  aching  forehead.  But  no  friend 
is  near.  You  see  only  the  jackals  gathered  round  you  to 
tear  you  limb  from  limb,  and  the  vultures  flying  over 
with  horrid  screams,  impatient  to  pick  upon  your  bones. 
Yet  it  is  not  the  sight  of  these,  it  is  not  the  sinking  feel- 
ing of  loneliness  at  this  distressing  season ; it  is  not  the 
keen  pang  when  soul  and  body  are  parted,  that  brings 
the  intense  anguish,  the  nameless  horror  ; — It  is  the  de- 
spair, with  which  the  soul  looks  into  a dark  and  bottom- 
less gulf.  On  the  dying  bed  of  the  Christian,  heaven 
opens,  but  no  ray  of  revelation  cheers  your  prospect. 
Hurried  by  fiends  to  the  bar  of  God,  your  soul  receives 
the  appalling  sentence,  “ Idolaters  shall  have  their  part 
in  the  lake  that  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone.” 
While  there  sinking  in  the  devouring  flame,  you  see 
Christians  rising  to  glory,  can  you  doubt  for  a moment 
what  benevolence  required  them  to  do  for  your  salva- 
tion ? Whatsoever  then  ye  would  that  others  should  do 
unto  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them,  for  this  is  the  law  and 
the  prophets. 


. 


